Wednesday, 20 February 2013

A story deeper and darker than E.T. How could one planet
evolve such complex and divergent examples of biodiversity?
The series “Species Intervention #6609” spans two hundred years, encompassing
tender love between divergent species, political downfalls and violence of
unspeakable order. It is an unfortunate tale of Armageddon and the remote
possibility of redemption.
In Baby, Netty is a naive teenage farm girl given in marriage to an older
brutal opportunist disguised as a successful citizen during the years of
Prohibition in Sussex County, New Jersey. After years of enslavement, Netty
flees into the night from her rapist husband, traveling back to the farm worked
by her parents, where she rescues an unfamiliar damaged creature she finds in a
cave in the woods of her childhood, falling in love with the enigmatic creature
she names Baby. Together they find happiness and fulfillment despite the
changes to Netty’s body wrought by the proximity of the unusual creature.
When a handsome Italian stranger comes into Netty’s life, complications ensue
as she falls in love while trying to hide the bizarre and wondrous changes to
her farm and her body. Netty, Baby and Wil strive to conquer obstacles thrown
in their path by life, succeeding wildly until the heart-rending and
astonishingly brutal climax to their story.

More of a sci-fi read than my usual paranormal fantasy but a
gripping story. Netty’s misleading marriage with Robert was heartbreaking to
read. But when she finally runs away and finds baby the story is so much more
pleasant, with new surprises at every turn. Baby is a touching book and you can’t
help but like this incredibly strange family. That is until they are brutally
murdered. For a minute I could not believe that was possible, how could they
all be killed just like that? How could someone take their long sought happiness
from them in an instant but it was clear that this book is not your normal
fairytale.

The story becomes more thrilling as one by one, each person
who tormented Netty and her family dies mysteriously, until finally Robert
himself realises how it feels to lose the ones you love in an instant.

A captivating, unusual and very imaginative read. Highly
recommended!

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest
review.*

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

AboutBloom was abandoned by her mother at birth, but thanks to her dad she never once felt unloved. When he is killed in a car wreck, leaving her without any close family, she spends a year mourning him. She feels as if her heart has been cut out of her chest and nothing is left but an empty hole that she doesn’t think will ever heal. Then one night after work she finds a wounded dog in the woods behind her house and takes him in, not realizing he’s more than just some stray dog but a wolf shifter, who happens to be her mate.

Pike is getting over the loss of his father by running full force away from his responsibilities. He’s getting ready to go back to face his new position as the Alpha of his pack when he catches the scent that can only belong to his mate.

When Bloom finds out she may not be the normal human she always thought herself to be, she’s forced to search out the woman who abandoned her at birth

The book's beginning was sad but intriguing; a year after her dad’s death, Bloom is still grieving. That is until Pike arrives, smelling Bloom’s strawberry and cedar scent and thereby changing Bloom's entire life. It was very entertaining to find Bloom happy with this dog/wolf, when in fact the animal was a shifter, who also happened to be Bloom’s mate.

Chapter’s alternated between Bloom and Pikes’ thoughts and perspectives, which I found useful because it allowed us to hear not just Bloom’s thoughts, but also the wolf’s too. This was most helpful when Pike was in his wolf form and had not yet shifted so was acting as Bloom's 'pet'.

Once Pike shifts into his human form they are both already in love. I found their constant ‘darlings’ a bit too mushy, but I know that’s just me, anyone else would find it sweet!

The story has quite a few interesting surprises, particularly when we realise that Bloom has the shifter gene but for an unknown reason Bloom has not yet shifted. In addition, Bloom has another gift of 'gut instincts' and knowing things intuitively, without a logical explanation. Since this is a series, I believe we will find out more about Bloom’s gifts when she meets her great-aunt in the next book.

My favourite character had to be Bloom’s best friend; Bonnie. Fiercely loyal, and incredibly sweet, she made me laugh at the way she mocked Pike and his shifters by calling them dogs, rather than shifters. AT the end of the book it appears that the pack’s Beta has mated with Bonnie, but the feelings are one-sided since Bonnie is appalled by the news. I look forward to seeing how long before she gives in to the mating bond!

Overall, a fun read, which gave me much more insight to shifters than I had before. The addition of a psycho stalker, evil brother and unknown gifts, makes this book a recommended read.

Saturday, 9 February 2013

That's just the First," Caleb said, pausing to worry at
his lower lip. “And it's only one of seven, Seven Wicked; we can't destroy any
of the others until we destroy the First.”

When reincarnated goddess, Eevee Marx, sees the necklace at her local thrift store,
she just has to have it. But Eevee has no idea that when she drapes the
delicate, silver links over her fingers, she is continuing a legend her spirit
had started centuries ago. That when she unhooks the tiny clasp and lays the
black and silver pendant against her chest, she will spend the night of her
seventeenth birthday holding the dying body of the boy she loves.

The Seven Wicked have been sleeping, preparing for Eevee to touch the necklace
and reawaken the powers inside of her. Now, the only thing that stands between
them is Caleb, the golden haired boy who will sacrifice himself to save her.

Loved it. Sometimes, I read a book with the most complex
plot, the most intricately described characters and written beautifully yet I
will only give them 4/5 stars. At other times, I will read something simpler,
not as detailed, but characters that I fall in love with, a story that I don’t
want to end and I am happy to say that C.M. Stunich’s ‘The Seven Wicked: First’
is one of the latter books.

I absolutely loved it. So much so, that I went to sleep
reading it and woke up completing it. I probably would have given it a 4/5 if
Caleb stayed dead! At almost every chapter I was reminded that Caleb was going
to die and at one point I wanted to stop reading the book because I didn’t want
Caleb to die. But thank goodness for CM Stunich’s generosity and the weird
rule!

Eevee is an adorable 16, going on 17 girl, sweet yet has
her temper tantrum moments, and rather clumsy. I enjoyed reading the story
through her perspective because she was so real. Not the perfect little
princess who gets everything right, realises and declares her love immediately.
Oh no. Eevee is kind of geeky, has normal thoughts and doubts about herself and
is very down to earth. Plus, I love the name.

I was a little confused about the seven wicked, the
grotesque monsters of the story, but I’m assuming the next book will help
clarify things. And rest assured, I will continue with this series!

*I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an
honest review*

Saturday, 2 February 2013

What if you found out you were the granddaughter of the first woman, no not Eve, but Lilith? After 150 years Dika Edens, the oldest of 4 girls each destined to live forever finds out that very thing. She is not sure if it is a curse or a gift from the Gods. All she knows is the man that has informed her of this has way too much guilt on his shoulders regarding her and her
past. Chrome is her Guardian but that does not mean he can protect her from everything. He should be the first one to know that - since he is the one telling her that she must save the world.

My name is Dika, I am an American born Hungarian, Polish, Spanish Gypsy with a little bit of something special, born right here in the green state of Oregon, home of the Beavers. History would be changed in a matter of a few words spoken from the man that has been haunting my dreams. My sisters and I need to save the world and if we don't the Universe will cease to exist as we know it.

My name is Chrome Jai, Dragon Guardian to Dika Edens, created to protect her from the evils of the first human woman mother of mankind. I will protect her as she fights to save the humans, but her first assignment will be to make it through the first 48 hours and find her Aunt and her Grandmother.

We will go together to hell and back just to fix the mess of the Gods and man.

There are many books that I have been given by authors, or won, or bought and that I need to review. At the time I read the synopsis on goodreads or amazon to find out what the book is about but by the time I begin reading, I tend to forget, which is just as well since it gives the book more mystery and I like being surprised.

However, before reading Thunderstorm I could remember that the book would supposedly change my view around the first man and women on Earth, as per the Bible. This was a bit worrying because although I like books that show me things from a different perspective, something as fundamental as Adam and Eve would be hard to change and make it sound realistic.

Thunderstorm was an interesting read. It did indeed make me question the biblical stories about Adam and Eve being the first man and woman on earth, and the alternative was convincing enough to make it very believable.

I particularly liked the concept of these four sisters with special powers, and how they have a dragon guardian assigned to them since birth. There was a lot of ‘girl power’ coming across despite the dragon guardians being there to protect these women, and I’m glad because I’m not too fond of the whole damsel in distress concepts.

I look forward to finding out if and how the girls will get Drina back from the ruined garden, whether they will find Lilith, and what will become of Delilah because of the fatal bite.